In dire need of some expertise!!

[carrotflowers]

Hello,
I am not sure if I am posting this in the right area but I am in urgent need of some advice if anyone can help with a complex situation.

My fiance is 23 and a Brittish citizen, I am 21 and a US citizen, I am currently in the UK and have been here for just under 3 months on a 6 month entry clearance visiting. I have never met my fiance in person prior to arriving here, we have had a relationship prior to this for about 10 years via email, video chat, phone calls and letters.

After a month of being here, he proposed. We live with his parents and, unfortunately, due to our location and the dire situation of the global economy, he is currently unemployed (though searching). His parents, however, have agreed to provide us with a room here as wel as support with basic living essentials for as long as necessary. Between my fiance and I, we have £2500 pounds to work with. I am ineligable for any of the other types of visa. I have spent the past two months trying to figure out what to do: I have read the entire lawbook of UK immigrations from front to back, I have met 3 solicitors, and have my options in front of me, plus came up with a couple additional ideas on my own that may or may not work:

1. I can apply for a COA and run the risk of running out of time on my visitor's visa for it to be approved, marry (providing it is accepted) and apply on FLR (M) for a 2 year leave to remain,

2. Return to USA and apply for a fiance visa, hope it works---come back, proceed to marry and FLR(M)...and if it doesn't work, come back to UK on another 6 month entry to bide more time and then try option 1 and hope that works,

3. Leave the UK to go elsewhere in Europe, elope, come back to the UK as a married couple and apply for settlement, hoping that they will take more compassion on us as an already married couple

4. Go somewhere else in Europe on holiday and re-enter the UK to get another 6 months entry as a means of buying more time, apply for the COA and then apply for 2 yr LTR. This additionally might look good I thought because it would mean we would have been together longer in person before marriage as well as have been on a vacation together.

I have lots of evidence of our relationship as well as that I have been living here.

I am scared to death because I don't want to get separated from my fiance (and secondly I don't want to go somewhere and not get back into the UK, and wind up being stuck in the middle of Europe without my stuff or a means of getting back to either home.)

There seems to be little, if any, guarantee of success with any option I go with...so does anyoe have any personal experience or expertise with any of these that they can advise me on? What would you suggest I do? I would greatly appreciate your suggestions, or any other ideas if you have them as well.

-Carrotflowers

[UKBAbble]

I would strongly advise against options 1,3 or 4.

[meats]

1) You can't change visas within the UK if on a visitor's visa so that's a non-starter. You'd still have to leave to get your visa sorted.

2) Your best bet.

3) I wouldn't do that as it would look very suspicious. Plus in order to come back your partner will have to have been exercising treaty rights abroad so you'd be in Europe for about 6 months or so before you can come back as his partner on an EEA visa.

4) 6 months in 6 months out. So unless you travelling around Europe for 6 months, which again is illegal assuming you get a Schengen visa as they have a 90 days in and 90 out policy, this also won't work.